What do I do if my friend is addicted to pain killers?!
Question: What do I do if my friend is addicted to pain killers.?
My best friend of 3 years had knee surgery after a wrestling injury and has been addicted to painkillers ever since. He is getting so desperate that he's taking up to 9 benadryls at a time and gets high off of them almost everyday. If he doesn't get them then mood swings start and he gets aggressive. I want to help him but don't really know where to start. Any suggestions.?Health Question & Answer
Answers:
Diphenhydramine (Benedryl) can have an additional effect to some other drugs, such as pain killers and dextromethorphan (an ingredient in many cough suppressants). It even causes some central nervous system (CNS) problems such as hallucinations. And, worse than these: even a heart attack and death.
In this case, I think that you should be a great friend to this guy, and tell his parents. Remember that telling means keeping someone out of trouble, while tattling is getting someone into trouble.
Drug addiction is a pretty serious kind of trouble, isn't it.? I don't know how old you are, but I am guessing that you are still young enough that his parents will be able to take some action. You may lose a friend, at least temporarily, but it may be worth it. At least you will know that you have done something to truly help him.
Someone else suggested that you do an intervention; interventions are complicated and serious and involve a number of people, including a counselor or psychologist. So, please do not try to pull this off alone!
You could, however, be an important part of an intervention. You can share the impact your friend's drug addiction has made on your friendship. Your input may be able to speak to your friend in a way that his family and loved ones cannot.
Whatever happens, please know that I will be thinking of you and admire you for wanting to do something. It is pretty hard to watch someone about whom we care just ruin his or her life this way. Your hands are somewhat tied since you are a friend, but you are truly one who may be the catalyst that helps your friend down a pathway that improves the quality of his life, and possibly saves it.
One warning: be careful that your caring does not interfere with your own life. You need to take care of yourself so that you may truly help your friend. Caring about him should not, though, ruin your life. Take care of yourself first, please.
also, allow your friend to suffer the consequences of his addiction. Do not enable him by trying to cover for him or "fixing" any of his problems. He needs to realize that the consequences are HIS problem. Best wishes.Health Question & Answer
In this case, I think that you should be a great friend to this guy, and tell his parents. Remember that telling means keeping someone out of trouble, while tattling is getting someone into trouble.
Drug addiction is a pretty serious kind of trouble, isn't it.? I don't know how old you are, but I am guessing that you are still young enough that his parents will be able to take some action. You may lose a friend, at least temporarily, but it may be worth it. At least you will know that you have done something to truly help him.
Someone else suggested that you do an intervention; interventions are complicated and serious and involve a number of people, including a counselor or psychologist. So, please do not try to pull this off alone!
You could, however, be an important part of an intervention. You can share the impact your friend's drug addiction has made on your friendship. Your input may be able to speak to your friend in a way that his family and loved ones cannot.
Whatever happens, please know that I will be thinking of you and admire you for wanting to do something. It is pretty hard to watch someone about whom we care just ruin his or her life this way. Your hands are somewhat tied since you are a friend, but you are truly one who may be the catalyst that helps your friend down a pathway that improves the quality of his life, and possibly saves it.
One warning: be careful that your caring does not interfere with your own life. You need to take care of yourself so that you may truly help your friend. Caring about him should not, though, ruin your life. Take care of yourself first, please.
also, allow your friend to suffer the consequences of his addiction. Do not enable him by trying to cover for him or "fixing" any of his problems. He needs to realize that the consequences are HIS problem. Best wishes.Health Question & Answer
You are trying to do a very good thing,, you truly are a friend,, here are a few links that will help you help your friend.
You are probably saving your friends life.
http://health.discovery.com/centers/addi...
.?id=477&action=detail&aeproductid=Adam2004_1&aearticleid=001522" rel="nofollow">http://www.uclahealth.org/body.cfm.?id=47...
.?s_mcid=BAYA08-002" rel="nofollow">http://www.drugfree.org/notinmyhouse/def...Health Question & Answer
You are probably saving your friends life.
http://health.discovery.com/centers/addi...
.?id=477&action=detail&aeproductid=Adam2004_1&aearticleid=001522" rel="nofollow">http://www.uclahealth.org/body.cfm.?id=47...
.?s_mcid=BAYA08-002" rel="nofollow">http://www.drugfree.org/notinmyhouse/def...Health Question & Answer
maybe you should have an intervention. if you don't have the money for a rehab physicality its ok just make sure he is in a place that someone will take care of him and make sure that he doesn't fall into his old ways. hopefully it works out! Health Question & Answer